http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/16128807.htm

http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/16128794.htm

Long and short: There are two anthracite coal collieries left of the many that dotted the eastern PA fields (both, by the way, from companies once woned and operated by class one railroads): The "old" St. Nicholas in the middle field, and the Huber in the upper field.

The Huber Colliery, once part of Glen Alden Coal (previously property of the DL&W RR's coal arm), has been lauded as the first and most significant implementation of the International style of architecture in industrial use.

I would estimate, without any hoopla, that this facility is the second most important post 1900 industrial complex left intact in the north eastern US, right behind Bethlehem Steel (which is also threatened with demolition, and not really as intact as the Huber).

It stopped shipping by rail (CNJ) in the early 1970's, but is on live trackage and - yes - could be connected to Steamtown by rail.

In fact, one energetic, boisterous, pain-in-the-a$$ (me) had attempted to get that in the plan 20 years ago as part of a two-pronged approach to industrial history in Scranton & Wilkes-Barre, where tourist trains were used to connect Steamtown and the Huber into a linear industrial experience.

At that time, county owned trackage (with a short piece of trackage rights) connected both sites. There is now a gap.

There is a preservation group dedicated to the Huber. Now is the time for support:

http://www.huberbreaker.org/

Rob

I did not read everything on their website, but it appears that their goal is to stabilize the site and make it safe for people to visit, rather than the usual festival marketplace or city offices adaptive reuse scenario. Rob's idea of making it a destination for Steamtown trains was a very good one, though the severed track in between is a problem now. I'm sure there are probably some who would like the site for yet another big box shopping zone or something similar.

Simply stabilizing the buildings, with a modicum of security and adding some visitor-safe walkways, with interpretation, would probably cost no more than tearing the place down. Railroad roundhouses and shop buildings, like those at Evanston and Sacramento have the same potential. These were gritty places where people labored hard and visitors deserve this glimpse into the past, before everyone sat at a computer in a cubicle and called it work. They should not be overly cleaned up, beyond safe walkways and adding restrooms and some intrepretative features. Green grass, potted plants, gaslights and fancy brick walkways (which every architectural firm seems to add in the plans for these projects) do not belong here.

Did anyone other than me see the pun in the title to this thread?

Steve

I'm glad you did!

Rob

First thing that came to my mind. Pleased to share such perverse humor.

dave